Customs to auction off P300-M smuggled rice

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is set to auction off on Thursday 200,193 bags of smuggled rice seized by bureau with a total value of more than P299.6 million.

In a notice, the BOC said a public auction sale through a sealed bidding will be conducted by the Manila International Container Port (MICP) at the ground floor, conference room, of the bureau.

The notice explained that the auction was made pursuant to provisions of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) and under a certain Customs Memorandum Order (CMO).

To be auctioned off are white rice and glutinous rice from Bold Bidder Marketing.

“Bold Bidder had attempted to get the shipment released by simply voluntarily giving up their rice shipments for seizure by the government, hoping that the District Collector and/or the Commissioner would go for settlement and payment of additional duties, taxes and penalties,” BOC spokesman Charo Logarta Lagamon said.

Lagamon, however, pointed out that the BOC is maintaining its “no permit, no entry” policy.

To qualify for the auction, a bidder must be an National Food Authority licensed wholesaler or retailer, with at least P48 million and a bank branch manager’s certification that the bidder is capable of paying at least P47 million.